Lubricating apparatus



g 2, 1932- c. HARRIS ET AL 15711195 LUBRI CATING APPARATUS Filevd Oct. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n 15 j J2; 125 1;); L@ 1' Y i Y 17 l1' l zzz 5f Y l I 27m Allg- 2, 1932 c. HARRIS ET Al. 1,870,195

LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 15, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 w 7% f f@ ffm INVENTOR5 (7 WM( ATTORNEY5 Patented Aug., 2, 1932 so sraras PATENT OFFICE CLEO HARRIS AND CLYDE Gr. BUTLER, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS T THE CIN'- CINNATI BAEL CRANE COMPANY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIG, A CORPORATION 0F OEI@ innamorate-ING APPARATUS `Application filed October l5, 1931. Serial No. 569,020.

This invention relates to lubricant pumps and is particularly directed to improvements in that type of pump which includes a lubricant reservoir and a follower plate therein moved against the grease by air pressure. More particularly, the invention deals with the closur-e means for the reservoir and the control of the air within and supply to the reservoir.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved closure means Jfor a lubricant reservoir operative in conjunction with the air supply means to the reservoir, which feeds the grease, whereby a manually operated locking means for the closure is effective for automatically disconnecting the air supply and exhausting the same prior to full re ease of the reservoir lid. The advantage of this Vresides primarily in the fact that there is no opportunity for a sudden release of the closure means without prior release of the compressed air within the reservoir and discontinuance of the air supply and consequently there is no suddenly released air pressure eli'ect on the lid such as would violently throw it back on its hinge and cause serious physical harm to the operator or damage to the pump.

It is a further object to provide an automatic air cut-ofi' valve for the air supply to the reservoir for accurately controlling the pressure developed in the reservoir within a maximum.

Further objects relate to the provisions of an improved clamping means for thelid and an improved sealings means associated with the lid for sealing the joint between the lid and the reservoir tank as well as to various features of detail in the mounting and attachment of the lid and in the struc-l ture of the clamping means.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a central and vertical sectional view generally illustrating the improved lubricant pump.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2, -Figure l, detailing the construction at the lid of the reservoir.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure l, detailing the air motor reversing valve and the air inlet control valve for the motor. i

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged out of Figure l, illustrating the air supply control valve to the reservoir released by displacement of the clamping ring.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 5 5, Figure 3, illustrating the automatic air cut oi' in the reservoir compressed air supply conduit.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged out of Figure l, illustrating in detail the4 air motor reversing valve.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken through the safety by-pass valve in connection with the grease discharge passageway.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8 8, Figure l, detailing the mounting of the air inlet control wire in the carriage below the universal connection of the grease hose.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail side view, partly in section, of the pumpat the closure locking means.

Figure l0 is a sectional view taken on line 10 10 of Figure 9 further det-ailing the closure locking means.

The reservoir closure means and reservoir air supply control device of this invention may be readily applied to the grease reservoir of any type of' grease pump lwherein air pressure is supplied above a follower plate acting against the grease for'feeding the grease from the reservoir into the environ,- ment of a pump Aand consequently, wherein there is involved the problem of a sealed lid and insured air relief and discontinuance prior to the opening ofthe reservoir or container lid for preventing sudden movement of the lid when released, such as would be caused by Compressed air withinA the container. It is preferable that provision is made for discontinuing the air supply prior to full lid release and while the lid is open.

In this case the power means for the grease dispensing apparatus to which the above mentioned means are applied is of the pneumatic type, the air supply for the reservoir therefore being taken from the air line which extends to an air motor operating the pump.

Referring to the drawings, the pump is shown generally at and is supported on a truck or wheeled carriage 1l. This truck includes a handle 11a for convenient operation. An air motor 12 for the pump 1() is mounted on the truck 11. The grease pump includes an upwardly extended hopper upon which is mounted the reservoir tank 13 for the pump. This reservoir tank includes a lid 14 for closing its upper end and a follower plate 15 lying upon the surface of the grease within the container for uniformly urging the grease to .the hopper of the pump.

The air is supplied to the pump through an air conduit 16 connecting to a manifold 1 supplying the air motor and the reservoir. A conduit 18 extends from the manifold to the top of the tank or reservoir and is connected for admission of air into the upper interior of the tank, the lid operated valve 19 being provided at the entrance of this conduit 18 to the reservoir.

The air motor used in this particular instance is of the same general construction as that disclosed and claimed in the co-pending application of Cleo Harris and Clyde Gr. Butler, Serial No. 553,297, and for this reason the description of this motor is not as full as that given in the mentioned co-pending application. The air motor includes a piston 20 air actuated in grease discharge direction and spring returned by means of a coil spring 21 under compression, `this piston carrying a pump plunger 22 extending from the air motor into the pump casing 23, the pump casing serving as the bottom for the reservoir, being of tapered form to provide a hopper leading to the'pump and including adjacent interior bosses 24 extended from its wall. These bosses are designed to support a pump cylinder 25, the piston plunger 22 operating in this cylinder.

The reservoir tank 13 is attached to the pump casing 23 by an inturned lower flange 26 bolted under the underside of the upper flange 27 of the pump casing. The lid 14 for the reservoir is hinged at one side on a hinge bracket 28 attached to the reservoir tank, a horizontally disposed hinge pin 29 being provided for this purpose. The upper edge of the tank is rolled outwardly over a ring 30 and the lid has its edge rolled inwardly about a ring 31. A special gasket or sealing ring 32 is secured in the internal.

side of the lid edge or beading by means of a lip 33 of the gasket extended into a. slot 34 formed in the beading at the lid edge. This sealing ring includes a depending apron portion 35 overlying the joint between the lid and tank and engaging against the inner upper marginal edge of the tank.

For the purpose of securing and locking the lid in position after it has been swung on its hinge and lowered upon the top of the tank, a split Clamping ring 36 is used. This split ring 36 has its respective sections pivotally attached to the hinge bracket 28 by means. ofvertically disposed pivot pins 3 The clamping ring sections are formed with concave inner surfaces which fit uniformly about the superposed headings formed on the abutting edges of the lid and tank, thereby overhanging and underhanging these associated headings. These clamping ring sections connect at their swinging ends and include corresponding and abutting lugs 38 for this purpose.

A manually operable locking device 39 is provided at these lugs. For this purpose a draw bolt 40 is pivoted in one lug by means of a vertically disposed pin 41 and extends through slots 42 in the respective lugs, this draw bolt having a screw-threaded outer end. A lug 43 having a convex face lies within a concave groove 44 in the vertical face of the second mentioned lug and is traversed by the draw bolt.

A sleeve nut 45 is threaded on the draw bolt and engages the lug 43, this sleeve nutbeing operated by means of a handle 46 having a bifurcated inner end straddling the outer end of the sleeve nut and attached thereto by means of a pvot pin 47 disposed transversely through the sleeve nut. Therefore, the sleeve nut is readily rotated by means of this handle and the lugs 38 are drawn tightly together into abutment for setting the clamping rings in position.

The air supply pipe coming up to the top of the tank from an air pressure regulator valve 48 mounted on the motor base, is secured to a lug 49 attached to the side of the tank just below the abutting lugs of the clamping rings. For the purpose of attachment of the pipe, a4 rotatable coupling element50 is mounted on the end of the pipe and is screwed into an adapter 51 attached within a bore extending upwardly into the lug. The lug includes adjacent valve seats 52 of tapered form. A passageway 53 extends from the bore between the seats int-o the interior of the tank through an aperture 54 in the 'side wall thereof.

The valve 19, operated by thel closure means, is mounted within the lug and has opposing contact surfaces for co-action with the respective seats 52. This valve consists of operative position, the position is such as to hold the stem head within the conical recess 59 and maintain the upper valve surface against the upper seat thereby permitting the fiow of air into thetank above the follower plate mounted therein, the regulator valve 48 permitting a pressure, preferably around 100 pounds, to beapplied to the follower' plate. The moment the operator unloosens the clamping device and spreads the rings and the lugs are separated, the valve moves upwardly od its upper seat under the action of the air pressure for exhaust of the tank interior and engages the lower seat thereby closing olf the air supply to the tank.

The draw bolt 4() is square at its pivoted. end. The square portion is of a length for eX- vtending substantially through the slots of the lugs 38. It is designed to stop slightly short of the side of the lug 38a to which it is eX- tended whereby the 'shoulder between the squared portion andthe screw-threaded end does not interfere with the efficient tightening of the nut when the lugs are fully drawn together.

The lug 38'r1 through which the draw bolt extends is provided with lips 40a overhanging the outer face of the squared portion of the lug and providing a definite channel through which it is slidably disposed, these lips preventing swinging movement of the draw bolt on its pivot up until the time when the square portion has been entirely extracted lineally or is clear of the lug of the clamping ring at which time it is then possible to swing the draw bolt outwardly, the diameter of the screw-threaded portion being small enough to permit the bolt to pass between the lips 40a. The draw bolt is formed afterthe manner described above for the purpose of preventing sudden release of the clamping ringsK by compelling suilicient unclamping time whereby the air fully escapes from the tank'interior through the valve exhaust port prior to complete release. It is impossible for the operator to unscrew the nut at a rate and to a point which will permit full release of the clamping rings prior to full exhaust.

The clamping rings are formed and mounted in relation to the lid and tank superposed beading so as to be capable of being fully drawn together so that the lugs abut and the valve is always fully operated by the abutment of the respective halves of the socket into which the valve fits when it is in air supply position. It will be understood that the clamping rings need not fit tightly enough about the lips of the lid and tank for sealing the abutment- 'between these parts since the gasket or sealing ring 32 previously described fully accomplishes the sealing.

The unscrewing of the clamping device permits sufficient spreading of the lugsfor permitting full valve release before the clamping ring is fully detached from about the beads of the lid and tank so that before the lid can be acted upon by the air pressure and thrown back, the air pressure has been relieved and is no longer supplied through the supply pipe. Therefore it will bc appreciated that this device is quite efficient as a safety appliance preventing the sudden and unexpected raising of the lid under the action of the air pressure in the supply line and tank. The lid includes an air pressure gauge 60 and a safety valve 61 mounted in a fitting 62 in its top. The safety valve is set to relieve the pressure within the tank at about 115 pounds. This valve may be actuated by hand occasionally by pulling up on a handle 63 to insure its proper work-l ing order.

From the bottom of the container below the follower plate, the grease is forced into the hopper or tapered bottom 64 of the pump casing 23. The pump cylinder 25 is mounted between and within the transverse bosses, the ends of these bosses being spaced apart, and is maintained in position across the gap between the bosses by means of its headed end 65 seated against a shoulder in one of the bosses and held thereagainst by means of a discharge hose coupling element 66 screwed into the outer end of a boss 24.

The pump cylinder at the point where it extends betweenthe opposing ends of the bosses 24,24 is transversely slotted as at 67 to provide an opening into the cylinder from the reservoir.. The slot can be of any extent which leaves enough material to prevent septered about a stud 71 of the valve and engaging a shoulder 7'2 within the bore of the coupling element, the bore providing the grease discharge passageway.

The coupling element provides a bore at its inner end suiicient for clearing the valve and is diametricallyslotted as at 73 to provide clearance for thc grease as it passes be-yY tween the valve and its seat. The slot 7 3 extends to an annular groove 74 in the outer periphery of the coupling element and permits the discharge of grease into this groove. The groove 74 extends to the discharge bore through radially disposed apertures 75 connecting the'groove and bore.

The grease discharge hose 76 is of flexible construction including a universal joint attachment to the coupling element 66 as at 77 and a discharge control valve 78 at its outer end having its operating lever 79 connected to the air motorcontrol valve at the alii' inlet by means of a pull wire 80. The pull wire and its guide tube a extend ,along the exible discharge hose from the operating lever thereof to a mounting 81 screwed into rslthe base, and connecting to the operating lever 82 for the air control valve.

The discharge control valve 78 is -inserted in the flexible discharge conduit 76 toward the discharge end thereof and has the respective sections of the discharge hose attached to its body by means of screwthreaded fittings at the respective ends of thehose sections. A length of non-flexible tubing 83 is interposed in the discharge line at the inner side of the valve providing a mounting for the handle. Casing sections 84 forming the handle are fitted and attached about the valve and this tubing.

The valve operating lever 79 is disposed above the handle thereof and is pivoted to the valve body. A set screw 85 is included in the lever having its point in engagement with the' head 86. of a valve unseating plunger 87 and adapted to be swung across of valves assures the prompt opening an this head by actuation of the lever. The valve plunger 87 has a sealed entrance into the discharge passageway of the valve body and operates against a ball valve 88 normally seated by means of av spring 89- under compression as Well as by the grease under discharge pressure in the hose.

The operating lever includes an arm 90 extending into the casing and having the pull wire 80 attached thereto. Depression of this handlev accomplishes the unseating orv opening of the valve inthe discharge conduit and the unseating or opening of the air motor control valve causing the starting of the air motor. Release of the handle causes the reverse effects. This coincidental operation closing of the discharge line upon the starting and'stopping of the motor with the result that substantially no drppage occurs at the end of the discharge conduit as might be occasioned by over-run of the motor. Be-v yond the valve, suitable fittings 91 are provided providing universal coupling means for attachment of the hose to the fitting to be lubricated.

The flexible guide tube for the pull wire is adjustably attached to the base or truck of the pump through the mounting 81. The nounting 81 consists of a screw having a hexagon head and a bore. A slot 81a is formed transversely in the hexagon head. This slot is of T-shape permitting the lateral insertion therein and rotative attachment of an adjusting bushing 81b for the flexible cover tube. This bushing has a flange formed at its inner end fitting within the slot anda knurled portion at its outer end for rotation thereof, the spirally laid cover tube being threaded .through the formed interior of the bushing. Therefore, rotation of the bushing moves the cover tube 80u in and out of the bushing 81b and any slack may be taken up through this means. `From the end of the tube, the pull wire 80 extends across under the truck frame and is suitably guided grease discharge pressures over a predetermined dcgree back intothe reservoir tank, where the pressure is lower.

The assembly and mounting of this valve is as follows: A boss or Alug is provided in the pump 4casing and a bore, as the discharge passageway 96, extends through this boss from the grease discharge passageway to the interior of the pump reservoir chamber. This bore includes a shoulder 97 on its inner end and a seat element 98 is held againstv the shoulder by means of a sleeve 99, the sleeve being maintained in position by means of a screw 100 entering the outer end of the bore. The inner end of the sleeve fits snugly in the bore and inasmuch as the bore is counterturned at an intermediate point, the outer end of the sleeve is supported in a circular groove in the inner end of the screw.

A valve closing spring 101 is disposed under compression between a recess in the inner end of the screw through the sleeve and the valve. Radial apertures 102 are provided in the sleeve 99 connecting the interior thereof with the counterturned bore portion. A passageway 108e'xtends upwardly through d the pump casing wall tothe interior of the tank. The inner end' of the sleeve is slotted diametrically as at 104 adjacent the valve to permit lateral discharge of grease between the valve and seat and a flushing action at this point.

The manifold 17 which has been previously mentioned connects to th'eair motor control valve 105 at one end and to the pressure regulator valve 48 for the reservoir at the other end. The respective valves have their bodies bolted to the truck of the grease pump at the respective sides of the air motor.

From the air motor control valve 105 an air conduit 106 extends across to the cylinder head of the air motor through which conduit the air passes into a reversing valve 10T for the air motor cylinder 12. The air motor includes in general respect, a cup-shaped cylinder 108, the piston 20 in the cylinder, and a cylinder head 110 attached to the outer end of the cup-shaped cylinder. The piston carries the pump plunger v29. extending through a clearance bore in the closed end of the cylinder. The spring 21 is disposed unbeyond the discharge outlet der compression between the formed end of the cylinder and the piston, urging the pistn toward the out'er end of the cylinder for retraction of the plunger when the air supply is cut oil through the reversing valve4 and its automatic operating means.

The body for the air motor control valve 105 includes a bore 113 having a shoulder 114 formed at an intermediate point thereof, this shoulder constituting a valve seat. The valve normally engages against this seat 114 and has an end extending beyond the contines of the valve body and carrying suitable packing for sealing the bore. A stem 117 extends from the opposite end centering a valve seating spring ,118 disposed under compression between the valve and a spring retainer 119 mounted between the manifold and the valve body.

This valve 105 is actuated by means of the pivoted lever 82 which lever has a curved end 120 engaging the valve plunger end and having the pull wire attached to its outer or actuated end. A spring 121 is included between the end of rthe wire and the fulcrumed lever permitting some flexibility between the movement of the wire and the movement of the valve. The springs seating the respective valves 7 8, 105 are sufficient for returning the respective parts to normal position when the lever on the discharge control valve is released. i

The pressure regulator valve 106, from which the supply line to the reservoir extends, includes an air flow passageway extending from the manifold through the body ofthe valve to the supply pipe. A side passage 122 from this air supply passage is provided, this side passage communicating with one side of a diaphragm 123 which may be of rubber or any flexible material. A headed valve 48 is mounted in the valve body and has its head engaging against the opposite side of the diaphragm and its seating end operating relative to a seat 124 in the supply passageway of the valve body.

A spring 125 under compression between the head. and a packing gland 126 for the valve maintains the valve head against the diaphragm. Unless the pressure in the side passage and the reservoir becomes greater than approximately pounds or any predetermined pressure, the valve is held open by the incoming air pressure flow. When the pressure in the reservoir overcomes the compression of the spring 125, the air acts through the diaphragm to seat the valve 48 and cut off the air supply to the reservoir.

The improvements-tending to increased safety and efficient air control in this instance are designed for use with .any type of lubricator employing compressed air in the grease supply chamber and the description of the present pumping means has been given to provide a more complete environment for the invention.

Having described our invention, werclaim:

1. In a lubricant dispensing apparatus, a tank for containing the lubrcant, a follower plate in said tank adapted to be disposed upon the lubricant, a lid for said tank, an air supply conduct extending to the upper end of said tank above said follower plate, means for clamping said lid in closed position upon said tank, and a valve in said air supply conduit actuated by said clamping means for automatically relieving the air pressure withi-n the tank prior to the raising of the lid.

2. In a lubricant dispensing apparatus, a tank for containing the lubricant, a lid for sealing said tank, an air supply conduit extending to the interior of said tank above the lubricant, a manually operable clamp for securing said lid in closed position upon said tank, and a valve in said air supply -conduit actuated by said clamp for relieving the air pressure within the tank prior to the raising of the lid.

3. In alubricant dispensing apparatus, a tank for containing the lubricant, a lid for said tank, an air supply conduit extending to the'upper end of said tank, a clamp for securing said lid in closed position upon said tank, and a valve in said air supply conduit actuated by said clamp for exhausting the air pressure within the tank and closing 0E the air supply prior to the'raising of the lid.

4. In a lubricant dispensing apparatus, a lubricant reservoir, a follower plate in said reservoir adapted to bedisposed upon the grease, a pump disposed below the reservoir and supplied therefrom, a lid for said reservoir, an air supply conduit extending to the upper end of said reservoir, a clamp for saidlid for securing the same in sealed closed position upon said reservoir, a double acting valve in said air supply conduit, said supply conduit including an exhaust opening and valve seats for supply and exhaust respectively, said valve actuated by said clamping means for alternately contacting the respective seats for alternate relief of the air pressure within the tank with closing of the air supply prior to the raising of the lid `and closing of the exhaust with opening of the supply. n

5. An air-tight closure means for a lubricant reservoir, comprising, a reservoir tank, a hinged lid thereon, an air supply to said tank, a follower plate adapted to be urged against the lubricant by the air, said lid mounted on a horizontal hinge, semicircular clamping ring sections mounted on vertical hinges, the upper edge of said tank and the edge of said lid respectively including beading, a gasket secured in the lid and adapted to overhang the joint between the lid and the tank, said clamping ring sections formed internally for engaging kabout the beads when adjacent, and a manually operable locking means for connecting the abutting and swingl ing ends of the clamping ring sections.

lcant reservoir, comprising,

6. In a lubricant pump, a reservoir tank including an outer lip on its upper edge, a lid for the reservoir including a lip adapted to be super-posed on the lip of the reservoir, means engaging about said lips for rigidly fastening said lid in closure position upon said reservoir tank, a compressed air supply conduit extending to said reservoir, and a valve in said air supply conduit actuated by said lid locking means for supply of compressed air to the reservoir tank when the lid is locked and exhaust and cut-oil of the compressed air when the lid is released.

7. An air-tight closure means for a lubricant reservoir, comprising, a reservoir tank, a lid, an air supply conduit to said tank, said lid mounted on a horizontal hinge, semicircular clamping ring sections mounted-on vertical hinges, the abutting edges of said tank and lid respectively including lips, said clamping ring sections have concave form transversely internally for engaging about the lips when superposed for pressing the lips together, and alocking means for drawing the abutting and swinging ends oi' the clamping ring sections together.

8. An air-tight closure means for a lubria reservoir tank, a lid, an air supply conduit to said tank, said lid mounted on a horizontal hinge. semicircu lar clamping ring sections mounted on vertical hinges, the abutting edges of said tank and said lid respectively including beading, a gasket secured in the beading of the lid and overhanging the joint between the lid and the tank, said clamping ring sections formed internally for securing the beads in superposed relation, and a lockin means for connecting the abutting and s wlnging ends of the clamping ring sections together.

9. An air-tight closure means for a lubricant tank, comprising, a tank having a lip formed on its upper edge, a lid having a lip adapted to be superposed upon said first mentioned lip, an air supply conduit extended to the interior of lsaid tank, semicircular clamping ring sections adapted to be brought together about said lips, a gasket associated with said lips and vadapted to overhang the joint between the lid and the tank, and means for securing 'the clamping ring sections in position about said lips.

10. An air-tight closure means for a lubricant tank, comprising, a tank having a lip formed on its upper edge, a lid having a lip adaptedto be superposed upon said first menti cned lip, an air supply conduit extended to the interior of said tank, semicircular clamping ring sections adapted to be brought together about said lips, a gasket associated with `said lips and adapted to overhang the joint between the lid and the tank for sealing said joint, means for securing the clamping ring sections in position about said lips a valve in said air supply conduit, and said clamping ring sections including abutting surfaces operatin said valve.

11. In an air-tight closure means, a tank, a lid for said tank, clamping ring sections adapted to be drawn about the abutting edges of said lid and tank for securing the sami` together, said clamping ring sections including abutting lugs, an air supply conduit to said tank, an air exhaust and inlet valve in said air supply conduit adapted to be operated by relative movement of said lugs, a draw bolt pivoted in one lug andextendingr through the other, said draw bolt including a square portion within the lugs, said second lug including a channel preventing outward swinging of the draw bolt until the squared portion is withdrawn from said lug, and a clamping nut on the swinging end of said draw bolt for engaging said second lug and drawing said lugs together.

12. In an air-tight closure means, a tank, a lid for said tank, a clamping device adapted to secure said lid in closed position on said tank, an air supply conduit to said tank, an inlet and exhaust control valve in said air supply conduit adapted to be operated by said clamping device, and manually operated drawing means for said clamping device including a device for preventing full release 0f the lid prior to full exhaust of air from the tank.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names. CLEO HARRIS.

CLYDE G. BUTLER.

lll 

